One Year Left to Play-Chapter 173 - 55: Thank You for the Warm Welcome
Zhang Hao grabbed the rebound and quickly passed it to Gilliam, then immediately sprinted down the court!
Even Zhang Hao, whose speed has declined significantly due to fatigue, was surprised by Larry Johnson’s failure to score what seemed like a sure shot. However, the Hornets’ defense was timely. When teams are tired, their execution usually improves, especially for strong teams. The Hornets happened to be one such strong team.
Just as Burrell and Glenn Rice were about to trap Zhang Hao at the midline, within two or three body lengths, Zhang Hao suddenly sped up, even faster than Kenny Anderson approaching the midline, and he crossed the line first!
Because one second earlier, Zhang Hao had surpassed Kenny Anderson, triggering the "Single Rider" Golden Medal!
As Zhang Hao crossed the midline, Kenny Anderson received the ball. Zhang Hao outpaced the two defenders and sprinted towards the opponent’s basket. Kendall Gill, who was supposed to intercept Kenny Anderson, rushed towards Zhang Hao but was left behind. After being left behind, he realized Zhang Hao had become even faster, leaving him entirely uncatchable!
"Single Rider (Gold)" at full power! Temporary speed +10!
Originally, due to fatigue, Zhang Hao’s speed had dropped to a mediocre level of about 84 or 85. When he surpassed Kenny Anderson, his speed instantly reached the edge of the top tier, and after surpassing Kendall Gill, it rose to the upper edge of the elite level!
When Zhang Hao rushed into the free-throw line, Kenny Anderson’s precise pass arrived just in time. Zhang Hao caught the ball, took a step forward, and gently dunked it for two points!
to 106, the Nets lead by 3 points!
Zhang Hao’s counterattack always feels incredible. Others can only guess the reason that he becomes extremely excited during fast breaks, therefore unleashing his potential.
This is quite common in sports; everyone has something they excel in. Like a future player known as number 24 on his jersey, who will have an extraordinary affinity and explosiveness when it comes to percussion on leather and metal instruments.
Although it was just an ordinary dunk, for the Nets’ players, it was indeed a perfect dunk, the most perfect one of the night!
If Zhang Hao hadn’t unexpectedly rushed forward first, Kenny Anderson couldn’t have converted even if he received a pass from Gilliam. With 25 points and 8 rebounds tonight, Gilliam had no energy left for fast breaks and could only be a decoy in half-court sets. Without his shooting ability, Glenn Rice wouldn’t have doubled on Zhang Hao earlier.
Thus, the Bronze Medal "Dunk Master" was triggered for the second time tonight!
The previous alley-oop didn’t trigger it, but this one did!
With 1 minute and 33 seconds remaining, it’s the Hornets’ turn to attack. This time, they executed beautifully, with Glenn Rice sinking a long two from the baseline, narrowing the score to 108 to 109.
But Kenny Anderson quickly responded with a crossover stop-and-pop jumper for two points. Earlier, Zhang Hao and Larry Johnson’s duel actually gave another scoring opportunity for the others to catch a breath.
to 108, the Nets continue to lead by 3 points!
It was essentially the last offense for both teams. When it was the Hornets’ turn to attack, they were anxious to finish their play. Yet, after Zhang Hao’s fast-break dunk, the Nets were invigorated, despite being nearly exhausted, everyone was fighting relentlessly and looking for contact.
Larry Johnson, one of the best power forwards, seized an opportunity. After receiving a pass fake, he tricked the closing Zhang Hao to leap and rushed for a layup over PJ Brown’s long arm, scoring two more!
to 111, the Hornets still have hope!
Not only hope, but during the Nets’ next possession, they defended exceptionally well, thanks largely to Larry Johnson. With Zhang Hao unable to receive a pass for a shot, Kenny Anderson exhausted from his earlier play, and everyone else weakened, Gilliam’s forceful drive became the last resort. But Larry Johnson timely blocked the position, and Gilliam, already spent, forced a harsh shot that hit the junction of the rim and backboard, bouncing out!
The Hornets successfully defended this possession!
The ball flew towards Dale Curry, who was prepared to grab the rebound and call for a timeout. At that moment, two long arms appeared in his upward gaze, snatching the ball away!
This rebound was simply domineering, like bullying! However, Dale Curry quickly realized it wasn’t the time for outbursts. He turned to attempt a steal, but the opponent didn’t lower the ball, leaving Dale Curry regretting not opting for a foul immediately, but it was too late.
Zhang Hao used Dale Curry as a support, taking a close jump shot...
From this range, Dale Curry didn’t jump but only stretched out his hand, Zhang Hao shot too comfortably, scoring a clean basket!
With 9 seconds left, relying on Zhang Hao’s mid-range shot, the Nets’ lead extended once again to 3 points! The Hornets called a timeout!
The on-site fans couldn’t hold it back any longer, bursting into cheers!
"X... X... X..."
Scoring 6 points in crunch time, sealing the last shot after grabbing his offensive rebound, Zhang Hao’s final play completely swayed the crowd!
The fans in Charlotte are extremely passionate—they are very fervent about NCAA games. To them, had Zhang Hao not declared for the NBA draft and chosen college instead, he might surely be the next national best college player after Tim Duncan!
Too outstanding!
As for the Hornets... they should just move away; they can’t even beat a high schooler!
Despite it being just a preseason game, this is how the fans felt!
If not for the talents Vince Carter and Antoine Jamison displayed in preseason friendlies, thrilling North Carolina fans, they would probably inquire about the North Carolina coach’s family.
But... could Carter and Jamison be more talented than Zhang Hao?
Right now, the fans really aren’t sure anymore.
There were, of course, Hornets fans in the crowd, some die-hard fans. But most attended the game just for fun, as evidenced by the Hornets’ top three lowest attendance rates in the league for seven consecutive years. Since the existence of the Charlotte Hornets, they have never escaped the bottom three attendance slots!
If Zhang Hao’s offensive rebound led the Hornets players to feel the inevitability of their defeat, and his mid-range shot threw them into despair, the fans turning positions was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
With 9 seconds left, even after the Hornets called a timeout, Glenn Rice’s catch-and-shoot three-pointer was an unfortunate airball!
In this wave of defense, Randy Whitman replaced Jason Williams, PJ Brown, Almon Gilliam, Edwards, and Chales, who executed excellent defense!
Jason Williams, who rested most of the final quarter, was an energetic force. His excellent rebounding ability secured the defensive board, holding the ball until the final buzzer sounded.
The Hornets didn’t foul intentionally. Simply put, they surrendered this game!
They truly gave up and wanted to escape from here.
How could a preseason game escalate to this point?
At this moment, they began to question their earnestness, realizing they only rotated eight players in the second half, making them even more eagerly desirous of leaving.
They played seriously in the second half, only to lose to a Nets team without even their Coleman!
Moreover, the fans switched sides! All because of that player, the rookie across them who raised his individual score to a game-high 26 points at the last moment!
The fans couldn’t stop chanting "X," at which point Zhang Hao noticed the spectacle, and even he found it incredible.
The youthful temperament of this era couldn’t be contained any longer. Though Zhang Hao wasn’t on the court for the last defense, at the conclusion of the game, he rushed onto the court and told Larry Johnson, "Being in the NBA truly brings joy, thank you for welcoming me with two losses."
